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Good morning!
I am excited to start this next series of studies with you: The Call of Christmas.
Have you ever felt like God was silent.
You just could not hear Him.
You wanted to hear, but you just were not hearing from Him.
The people of Israel experienced this.
They were God's chosen people, the descendants of Abraham by God's solemn promise.
Their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had heard from God directly.
Then, God selected certain of their relatives to be the ones to hear from Him directly, and then share His Word with them all.
Joseph, Moses, Aaron, the High Priests, Joshua, the Judges, Samuel, the Prophets, and certain others like David and Solomon.
However, though God spoke to them through His chosen servants, the people of Israel had turned a deaf ear to the Lord.
They abandoned Him.
So, He warned them, and eventually punished them.
Part of that punishment was that there would be a period of time during which they would not hear from Him. Amos foretold this.
God did not do this to be spiteful.
He disciplined them so they would come to know Him, that He is the LORD.
As dark and depressing as this time was, there was always a remnant of Israel who believed--those who loved and believed the Lord.
Those people continued to cry out to hear from the Lord.
And while they cried out, they also held onto hope, that God does not change.
God does not lie.
God covenanted with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God established His covenant with Israel, and with David.
God would be faithful!
They looked forward to the day when God would speak again.
They knew from the prophecies, that the Messiah would come.
And before Him, one who would prepare the way for the Lord!
So for 400 years, that remnant waited.
They prayed.
They went to the Temple when it was rebuilt.
They sought the Lord through their prayers and tears.
And, finally... the Lord spoke!
The Lord did not have any prophets to speak through.
So, He used His servants, the angels to begin spreading His Hope, His Promises, His Call.
During this series, we are going to look at the Call of Christmas.
Those initial Calls from the Lord given through the angels which would lead up to the final Word from the Lord, Jesus, coming into the World.
I hope and pray that we will listen.
That we will want to hear from the Lord like that remnant did.
That we will listen, and heed the Call that God has given!
He is speaking.
Let us Hear!
Let us pray to hear from God this Christmas Season, and this morning specifically as we look into His Word, the record of His Call.
Prayer
Play Zechariah Video
The first call given was to Zechariah.
This is recorded for us in Luke 1:1-25.
It was a Call to Prepare.
Let's dig into this passage.
Luke used what was a typical, formal introduction for his account.
By this formal introduction, the readers of the day, including Theophilus, to whom it was addressed, would realize this is not a story--not fiction.
It was indeed, Factual--nonfiction.
And, being written when it was, it could be verified by the sources., or those around when it happened.
What was the topic of Luke's account?
It was the things which had been 'fulfilled among us'.
Right away Luke is drawing attention to God's faithfulness.
All that was about to be discussed was a fulfillment of what God had promised and foretold would happen!
God does speak, and what He says, happens!
Just as He says it will happen.
So, where did it begin...
Zechariah was a priest in the division of Abijah.
There were a lot of priests since all the descendants of Aaron, the first High priest were priests.
Those priests were divided into 24 divisions, as outlined in 1 Chronicles 23-24.
Each division would serve in the temple for one week, twice a year, and at major festivals.
Zechariah was married to Elizabeth.
They were said to be upright, or blameless in the sight of God.
That doesn't mean sinless.
All people do things wrong in God's eyes.
But, they were blameless because they followed God's laws and regulations, which included sacrifices to cover their sins.
Also mentioned here is that they were childless, and past the natural age of having children.
In this situation, with this people, it came time for Zechariah to go to the temple to serve.
And, on this particular occasion, he was chosen by lot to offer the incense in the temple.
An individual priest might offer the incense with either the morning or evening sacrifice only one time in his lifetime, since there were so many priests!
So Zechariah went in to offer the incense, and prayers along with the incense.
While he was inside praying and offering incense, the other priests and people who were at the temple were outside praying.
Then it happened!
While he was praying, the angel appeared.
Have you ever 'known' you were alone, and turned around to find someone there.
I love doing that to Jen when I get home from work.
I walk in quietly behind her and ... :)
Now, imagine that you 'know' you are alone, and you turn around to see a bright, mighty, majestic angel!
Also keep in mind that angels were used to meet out justice at times.
Zechariah responded as I would have... "startled and ...gripped with fear!"
But quickly the angel reassures.. Do not be afraid!
Your request has been heard.
What was Zechariah's request?
It could have been a son.
It could have been for God to speak, and fulfill His promises to send the messenger, and the messiah.
Based on Zechariah's response, I don't think he was looking for a son anymore.
I think he was looking for God to fulfill His promises!
But he got both!
The angel said his wife would bear a son, and Zechariah was to name this son, John.
This name means, "Jehovah-given," or "Jehovah has been gracious."
Grace is a gift given.
God was giving a gift to Zechariah and Elizabeth.
But not only to them, but to all!
Not only was this son going to bring joy to Zechariah, but also to many, because of what he was going to be!
Luke often uses joy in close relation with salvation, both in this account of Jesus' life, and in the account of the early church, the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.
Many would find joy in relation to God's salvation.
This son was going to be great in the sight of the Lord!
He was going to be a priest who would hear from the Lord!
He would literally be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb on!
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